Abortion is to become available in the 26 Counties in strictly limited
circumstances following a final vote on highly contentious legislation
early this morning.

The Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill will allow abortion where
the life of the mother is threatened, either through ill-health or
through the possibility of suicide.

After a fractious and chaotic two-day debate, which saw allegations of
drunkenness and lewd behaviour levelled at legislators, the government
won the final vote by 127 votes to 31.

Fine Gael’s Lucinda Creighton voted against the government on the bill
and immediately submitted her letter of resignation as Minister of State
for European Affairs to the Taoiseach.

The legislation was drafted to bring legal certainty to the 1992 Supreme
Court ‘X case’ ruling that abortion can take place to save the life of
the mother. Its introduction followed the death in a Galway hospital of
Savita Halappanavar, who died while miscarrying her pregnancy after
failing to receive a potentially life-saving termination.

But the inclusion in the legislation of a mechanism for women to obtain
abortion if they become suicidal as a result of pregnancy provoked a
giant protest of 35,000 to take to the streets in Dublin last weekend,
and a further protest is planned for this weekend.

Even the requirement that a panel of three doctors certify the mental
ill-health and suicidal tendencies of the mother before a termination is
permitted failed to avert the controversy.

The debate caused sharp political divisions within the main political
parties, with both Fine Gael and Sinn Fein announcing a crackdown on
party TDs opposed to the measure.

As a result of a declared purge by Taoiseach Enda Kenny of Fine Gael’s
rebels, Lucinda Creighton and four other FG backbenchers -- Brian Walsh
(Galway West), Peter Mathews (Dublin South), Billy Timmins (Wicklow) and
Terence Flanagan (Dublin North-East) -- will lose their nomination as
party candidates at the next election, which could spell the end of
their political careers.

One Sinn Fein TD (Meath East TD Peader Toibin) also voted against, and
was immediately expelled from the party for six months for a “serious
breach” of party rules.

Fianna Fail uniquely allowed its legislators to vote according to their
conscience. Fourteen voted against the bill, while five supported it.

Eleven independents also voted against for various reasons, including
five who did so because they believed the legislation did not go far
enough in providing for a woman’s right to choose.

Tanaiste Eamon Gilmore and three other TDs were absent, while three TDs
abstained from the vote.

There was a round of applause after the vote was passed, and
pro-abortion supporters outside Leinster House cheered at the result.

Speaking to reporters on the plinth of Leinster House tonight, Ms
Creighton said she felt very sad as she had been a member of Fine Gael
since she was 18.

“At the same time I am relieved because this is a huge issue that has
been weighing on everybody’s mind for months,” she said.

The prominent Dublin South-East TD became the third Minister of State to
quit the current government. She said she had been left no option after
standing by Fine Gael’s pre-election commitment not to legislate for
abortion.

“It’s no exaggeration to say that a lot of people have really struggled
on which way they would vote in this legislation and now obviously five
members of the Dail from my parliamentary party [will not support it],”
she said.

She said she had been asked to resign as a Minister by the party leader,
Taoiseach Enda Kenny. She said it was a “big shock” to find herself
outside the party.

Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams welcomed this morning’s vote.

“It has taken 21 years to secure the passing of this legislation,” he
said.

“It is long overdue. Sinn Fein had concerns about aspects of this bill
but we considered it very carefully [in light of the legal obligations
on the state].

“We also took the view that we have a duty and responsibility to
legislate for citizens - in this case pregnant women whose lives are at
risk - and to ensure that there is clarity for medical practitioners.”

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